Tag: Iowa Basketball

247Sports lists Iowa basketball as transfer portal winner

247Sports says Iowa basketball is a transfer portal winner.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have had three players leave the program for the transfer portal.

Guards Tony Perkins and Dasonte Bowen left and resurfaced at Missouri and St. Bonaventure, respectively. Forward Patrick McCaffery entered the transfer portal and joined Butler.

Perkins started all 34 games for Iowa last season, averaging 14 points, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. McCaffery appeared in 31 games, started 15 and averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Bowen played in 25 games, started eight and averaged 4.4 points, 2 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game.

Even with those departures, 247Sports lists Iowa basketball among its transfer portal winners.

Iowa was not immune to the transfer portal. Patrick McCaffery left for Butler. Second-leading scorer Tony Perkins bounced for Mizzou. Rotation guard Dasonte Bowen jetted off to St. Bonaventure.

But it could have been so much worse.

Iowa survived the transfer portal deadline without Josh Dix, Owen Freeman or Payton Sandfort tossing their names into the fray. Sandfort is currently going through the NBA Draft process. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound wing is one of the top pure snipers in the country, period, and heavy-hitters were strongly interested. Fellow NBA Draft prospects like Coleman Hawkins, Trevon Brazile and Cam Christie entered the transfer portal in the final hour to keep their options open. Sandfort did not. If he plays college basketball next season, it’ll be at Iowa. That’s enormous for Fran McCaffery.

Keeping Josh Dix and Owen Freeman out of the portal is just as significant. Dix is a midrange assassin who can get to his spots against anybody. The polished three-level scorer would’ve had a huge market, but he’s primed for a usage rate bump without Perkins in the mix. The Big Ten didn’t have many impactful freshmen, but Freeman was a major outlier. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 assists per game on his way to earning co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Iowa didn’t have any semblance of rim protection until Freeman steamrolled his way into the starting lineup.

Iowa has plenty of hoops to jump through. It’s still in the thick of it for UMass transfer Matt Cross to fill the frontcourt forward. It’s still waiting to see Sandfort’s feedback from the NBA personnel, but at least it knows Dix and Freeman are officially locked in for an important 2024-25 campaign. – Isaac Trotter, 247Sports.

As noted, Sandfort has a decision to make before the May 29 deadline: to remain in the 2024 NBA draft pool or return to Iowa. A return from Sandfort would bring Iowa’s top scorer and rebounder back.

Sandfort averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-7 forward shot 44.6% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point range and 91.1% from the free throw line.

Retaining guard Josh Dix and forward Owen Freeman was key for Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery. Freeman averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season while shooting 61.4% from the floor.

Dix averaged 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-5 guard shot 55.2% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range.

As Iowa continues its pursuit of UMass transfer forward Matt Cross, the Hawkeyes have already added one player out of the transfer portal. Morehead State transfer Drew Thelwell signed with the Hawkeyes.

The 6-foot-3, 195 pound guard played and started in all 68 games for the Eagles over the past two seasons. In his career, Thelwell has appeared in 114 games and started 69.

This past season, Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando native shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range. Thelwell netted 64.5% of his free-throw tries.

On Wednesday, the Big Ten announced Iowa basketball’s breakdown for its conference opponents.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.

Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF

Caitlin Clark is one of People’s 2024 Beauties of the Year following her historic season

Caitlin Clark’s stellar year continues with this new recognition from People.

WNBA players are getting a lot of recognition from top magazine outlets this year. First, it was A’ja Wilson on the Time 100. Now, it’s Caitlin Clark on People’s Beauties of the Year list.

New WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark has landed in People‘s 2024 Beautiful Issue on the magazine’s Beauties of the Year list. The impressive list, which includes other women who excelled in their fields or had breakout years — like Emma Stone and Da’Vine Joy Randolph — ranks Caitlin 11th among the 20 people selected.

This is what People shared about Caitlin:

“The 22-year-old’s mastery of the game drew 24 million viewers to watch her Iowa Hawkeyes in the women’s NCAA championship game — topping the viewership for the men’s final for the first time in history. Next she’ll play pro with the Indiana Fever: ‘My expectation is to be one of the best players in the world one day.'”

A’ja Wilson boldly challenged hoops fans to invest in Caitlin Clark and the WNBA

“I hope this isn’t just a trend.”

A’ja Wilson is challenging anyone who is a fan of women’s basketball and a fan of Caitlin Clark to continue supporting her and the entire WNBA.

With record-breaking viewership numbers, sold-out games and jersey sales, it feels like everyone is watching women’s sports. A good reason behind that seismic shift is the rise in popularity of women’s basketball and a proverbial comet, Caitlin Clark.

A’ja Wilson, two-time WNBA champion and reigning Defensive Player of the Year — and a new entrant to the Time 100 — hopes that if people come to watch Caitlin Clark’s debut season, they stay for the foreseeable future and support Caitlin and the league.

When recently asked at a Time event what it’s like to watch Caitlin’s rise in real-time, this is the insight Wilson shared (See 2:00 minute mark of the video below.):

“I feel like it’s becoming amazing, actually…because I play it, and I have been in it, and I see everyone else watch it. I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah. It’s about time you guys joined.'”

“I hope this isn’t just a trend. I feel like we see it a lot with young athletes, like, ‘Oh my god. We love her. We want to do this.’ Then, the minute it kind of shifts, or her path is a little rocky, all that goes away. I feel like that’s when it’s needed most. That’s when it’s an investment.”

“Buy that jersey. Go to that game. Take someone else. Put your money where your mouth is and invest in these women.”

Dawn Staley said Caitlin Clark is ‘the sole reason’ for the ratings boost in women’s college basketball

Dawn Staley said that Caitlin Clark is the sole reason for the ratings boost in women’s college hoops.

While South Carolina topped Iowa in the women’s NCAA national championship game this month, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley is giving sole credit to former Hawkeyes superstar Caitlin Clark for the recent ratings boost in the sport.

Indeed, this year’s tournament drew in record numbers when Clark was on the court. To Staley, the impact that the new Indiana Fever guard had on women’s basketball is immense.

Speaking with 670 The Score about spreading awareness for the sport, Staley argued that Clark is “the sole reason” for the ratings boost the game has experienced recently, and that her popularity helps bring awareness to other deserving athletes in the sport when they play each other.

“Caitlin Clark is the sole reason why viewership has shot through the roof for our game,” Staley told the radio show. “And I think the decision-makers are following suit in making sure that other games are being played besides Caitlin Clark because, if you play Caitlin Clark, you’re going to run up against somebody that you might find that’s pretty good.”

Staley’s sentiments make sense in the way that rising tides lift all boats, and Clark’s popularity absolutely drew audiences in and exposed them to more of the college game’s bright stars.

However, others might argue that while Clark may have been the main reason for the recent ratings boost, there were other standouts in the game that played a key role in the recent elevation of awareness.

Either way, Staley is an authoritative voice in women’s college basketball, and her praise of Clark’s impact on the game holds major credence.

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Caitlin Clark fans may have to wait more than half the season if they want to get her WNBA jersey

Fanatics said Caitlin Clark jerseys sold faster than any other athlete in company history.

The Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and will now have plenty of new fans.

It was not exactly a secret that Clark was headed to the Fever with the top selection. Not only did she get a very Indiana-specific NIL deal but local businesses and muralists started the push to bring her to the team long before she heard her name called on draft night.

Yet those who want to support the superstar by buying a jersey of her new team may have to wait a bit longer. While it is for sale via Fanatics, this is listed only as a pre-order.

In fairness, per Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, Clark that fastest-selling jersey on draft night of any athlete in company history.

Per the website:

“This is a special event item. Orders containing this product will be shipped separately. This item will be shipped no later than Wednesday, August 14, 2024.”

For what it is worth, the Fever will have played at least 26 of their 40 games by the date of that shipping estimate.

Of course, while there is a ton of excitement about Clark, it is disappointing for fans who want a jersey sooner rather than later.

It is also frustrating that folks who want to support other players on the Fever, like WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston, do not even have an opportunity to buy her jersey on Fanatics.

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Caitlin Clark is reminding everyone she’s human before her WNBA debut with the Fever

“I’m not going to come out here and score 40 points a game. That’s not what I’m going to do.”

As the No. 1 pick in one of the most anticipated classes in WNBA history, Caitlin Clark has a lot riding on her shoulders. But, she says she will give herself grace and time to adjust her expectations for herself going into the league. Everyone else should remember that, too.

It feels like the entire country is talking about Caitlin Clark and the 2024 class after Monday’s historic draft. What kind of impact will they have? Will they face reality when they meet the league’s veterans? Will Caitlin Clark meet the moment as she’s expected to do?

If you ask Caitlin what’s been on her mind after being drafted, she might say giving herself grace in this new chapter of her life. Per James Boyd of The Athletic, Caitlin expressed to him that it’s a concept she learned to navigate in college and will take with her to the pros.

Here’s what she told Boyd and the media on Wednesday:

“Grace is a thing for everybody — that everybody could use in their life. Not everybody is perfect. People make mistakes…there’s going to be learning curves for me. I’m not going to come out here and score 40 points a game. That’s not what I’m going to do.

It’s learning from the amazing people I have around me and heaving a lot of fun, but also don’t lose who I am. That’s what’s gotten me to this point. [I will] continue to be myself, and I think a lot of good will come from that.”

Former Iowa guard Tony Perkins announces SEC transfer destination

Tony Perkins is headed to an SEC program.

After a four-year run with the Hawkeyes, former Iowa guard Tony Perkins entered the transfer portal in late March.

Perkins averaged a career-high 14.0 points to go along with his 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 43.2% from the field, 29.9% from 3-point range and 78.8% from the free throw line.

Perkins appeared in 126 games and started 81 during his Hawkeye career. The Indianapolis product scored 1,175 points, grabbed 398 rebounds, dished out 321 assists, registered 137 steals and blocked 32 shots while in Iowa City.

Now, his next destination is public. Perkins took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm his move to the Missouri Tigers.

“It’s never been about the money,” Perkins wrote on X.

Perkins joins a Missouri team that won just eight games a season ago and failed to win an SEC game. The Tigers finished 8-24 (0-18) last season. It was the first time the program hadn’t won at least one conference game since the 1907-08 season.

Per 247Sports, Perkins is a four-star transfer, the nation’s No. 56 overall player and the No. 12 point guard. Perkins was a three-star signee for the Hawkeyes in the 2020 class and was rated as the No. 43 shooting guard and as the No. 8 player from Indiana out of Lawrence North according to 247Sports.

Perkins chose Missouri over programs such as Indiana and Oregon.

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Perkins is one of a trio of Hawkeyes that entered the transfer portal following the conclusion of Iowa’s 2023-24 men’s college basketball season. Redshirt senior forward Patrick McCaffery and sophomore guard Dasonte Bowen entered the portal as well. McCaffery just announced his transfer commitment to play at Butler.

Iowa ended its 2023-24 season with a 19-15 (10-10) mark. The Hawkeyes won one game in the NIT over Kansas State before falling at Utah.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.

Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF

Angel Reese shared an epic selfie with Caitlin Clark and 4 other top WNBA draft picks

That’s a whole lot of buckets in one photo.

NEW YORK — The WNBA Draft class of 2024 took in some of the best sights New York has to offer ahead of Monday night’s festivities, including some epic photos from the top of the Empire State Building.

Monday evening’s WNBA Draft will likely shatter all kinds of viewing records and become the start of some truly historic careers. This year’s draft class took time to remember such a huge milestone with a trip to the Empire State Building. After Caitlin Clark and Kamilla Cardoso lit up the building orange, several players also in attendance went to the observatory deck to take in the view.

But what’s better than the view from the 86th floor? A selfie with Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Aaliyah Edwards, Dyaisha Fair and Marquesha Davis to commemorate the moment. BOOM.

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Caitlin Clark is really going to get congratulated in person at the 2024 WNBA Draft by Jake from State Farm

A trio you never knew you needed: Caitlin Clark, Jake from State Farm and the WNBA Draft.

The 2024 WNBA Draft is probably one of the most anticipated drafts in recent memory. The incoming rookie class is loaded with talent, including Caitlin Clark, the presumed No. 1 pick. It also includes another baller who more people need to cause a ruckus over — Jake from State Farm.

Since the announcement of Caitlin Clark’s NIL deal with State Farm, Jake has been seen in commercials like this one with Caitlin. He’s even shown up to watch her break the all-time NCAA scoring record. So, it makes all the sense in the world that Jake would be there for another moment in Caitlin’s career, the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Per Jacob Feldman at Sportico, Jake and TV personality Taylor Rooks are expected to be among the people who will congratulate Caitlin after she is drafted. State Farm has also said that it will highlight her career achievements in Times Square and send her a congratulatory message after she is drafted. The company is even partnering with ESPN to create a rolling Instagram story as more first-round picks are announced.

How to buy Iowa vs. South Carolina NCAA Women’s National Championship game tickets

Want to watch South Carolina vs. Iowa in person? Limited tickets for the Women’s NCAA title game still remain for as little as $345.

After almost three weeks of madness, chalk reigns supreme in the women’s bracket as No. 1 South Carolina and No. 1 Iowa will play for a national championship.

Undefeated South Carolina dominated the second half and defeated No. 3 North Carolina State 78-59 to secure the first spot in the National Championship Game.

Iowa held on to win a roller coaster of a Final Four game against No. 3 UConn 71-69.

SHOP: South Carolina vs. Iowa tickets

The undisputed top team in the country in the Gamecocks taking on the consensus best player in the country in Caitlin Clark, what more could you want…besides a ticket?

The National Championship Game will be played in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, April 7 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and limited tickets still remain.

Don’t miss the chance to see a champion crowned and a historic moment in Caitlin Clark’s final collegiate game.

At the time of publication, National Championship Game tickets were still available for as little as $345.

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